"Their behaviour is disgraceful and has no place in a modern democracy." so says Stockport's Councillor Dave Goddard about Stagecoaches' refusal to carry Stockport council-funded adverts entitled "C-charge. Want to Pay? Have your say" on routes between Stockport and Manchester city centre. Stagecoaches' response is that they support the introduction of the congestion charge and are actually using their own buses to carry their message. See the full story at Anger over C-charge bus adverts.

Even organisers of the atheist bus advertising campaign (see All aboard the atheist bus campaign ) recognise the right of bus operators to decline advetisements as Ariane Sherine stated by in her article "...but outside London we may have to think about using billboards and trains instead of buses, since the company Stagecoach runs many regional bus services and may not accept our adverts as its owner, Brian Souter, is an evangelical Christian." (see 'Probably' the best atheist bus campaign ever .

Like them, Stockport Council might consider other avenues to spend the taxpayer's money if they try hard enough and let the bus operator continue with a clear conscience of not having accepted the 10 pieces of silver for a cause they do not believe in. Democratic? I think so.

[First published on my NotTheNews blog on specified date]